The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1887-10-13
ga STORY OF THE WAR.
Fbe Fate of a Young Soldier Made
Known after Twenty-four Years.

known after Tventy-four Years.
From The ST. Louis Globe Democrat
One Of the romances of the war has
lust been developed in Raleigh in
which the only son of one of North
Carolina's Governors figures. Cover
nor Todd r. Caldwell during the war
resided in handsome style at the quiet
little town of Morganton OF an cd
ana nonored family, he was proud and
had bat one object Of intense affection
his son, John--a handsome lad
not 20 years CT age. In the winter of
1852 this only son begged to be allow
ed to go to the army. Entreaties were
of no avail, and his father and his
mother at last consented, with tears,
that he might join the Army Of North
ern Virginia. He enlisted in the 33d
regiment of North Carolina infantry,
in Lanes brigade, Pender's division,
4. p. Hills corps.
When the campaign opened in 1868
10 soldier was more daring than
young Caldwell, and he was soon pro-
moted from the ranks. In May he
was made a second lieutenant for his
gallant and meritorious conduct. His
regiment went into the Pennsylvania
campaign. At Gettysburg he WAS
present. and in the hottess Of the fight.
On the afternoon of July 3, 1868, his
regiment swept up slope within fifty
yards of tho Federal lines, went closer
yet, and ayonets werc crossed. Sud
denly the line moved back litt!e.
/ Dung Caldwell was never seen alive
;.fter that moment He was at the
front when the backward movement
began. His father used all the in
huence Of money and position to find
the lost soldier, but unavailing ly. The
authorities refused to allow the graves
to be .pened. 1t could not be ascer-
tanned whether he was dead or alive,
and the matter became one Of the
most terrible uncertainties. Under
the strain the minds Of the father and
mother were nearly overcome. The
fsaaer grin.ly nursing his great sor-
rsH, forbade suy one to mention the
suns name, and the terrible story
was never alluded to, even by the
mother.
Ia 1871 Gen Caldwell became
Governor of the State Two years
later IN 1873, an ex-Confederate sol
der, named Lucus, from HYDE county,
vas elected to the Legislature, and
came to Raleigh. Some one tod
him one night the sad story of the
death, or supposed death, and mystery
Of John Caldwell. The next day Lr,-
Gus called on the Governor and told
bin the truth at last. Lucus wa. in
another regiment, and had observed
young Caldwell's brave bearing, as
they were near each other. In the
terrible moment of the repulse he had
s.en young Caldwell shot down while
separated from his men and fighting
hand 10 hand, New York soldier.
After hearing this story and the fur
ther details of the burial of Caldwell
| by Lucus, the Governor locked him
self in his room and was all day in
tears. He never told his wife of the
revelation by Lucus and told it only
to his private secretary.
A few days ago Major Charles w.
Cowtan, of New York city, wrote your
correspondent saying that he had in
bis possession a commission of an Of
fcer in a North Carolina regiment,
which he had picked up on the battle
field Of Gettysburg. His regiment.
the 10th New York, held the line al
that point, just after a terrible charge
by the North Carolinians, in which
one fair-haired and boyish officer wa,
brave in the extreme. Major Cow
tan had examined some Of the deat
Confederates, who so thickly strewet
the grounds at the works, and neal
one found torn and bloody commits
sion, on which was legible only "Johu
ca" of the name. Major Covtan ex
pressed desire to return this commits
sion if any relatives of the dead sold
ier could be found. The commission
Was found to be that of the long los
John Caldwell. Yesterday the CON
mission was sent Mrs. Caldwell, anc
this blood stained and torn piece o
parchment is, she writes, all there l.
on earth to remind her of the deaC
SON. For years she cherished th
hope that her son was alive and il
some prison. In fact, all the prison.
were searched for him through the il
fuence Of Governor now Senator
Vance. 1t has required twenty fou
years to ascertain the true story. A
the same time the commission wa
sent her she was first made acquaint
ed with the facts told Governor Cald
well in 1878